MNL

06/03/2026

Where to begin? The ultimate question.

It’s tempting to think you can just add native plugs or scatter seed into turf or w**ds, but native plantings usually need the site preparation first.

The goal is to clear or weaken the existing vegetation so the natives have a real chance to establish. If you have a large area this will definitely feel daunting, so working in sections is a great approach. Start with one manageable area, prepare it well, plant it, see what species do well, and then expand from there.

Site prep can look different depending on the w**ds and your location. Spraying can work in some situations, but near a pond or wetland, chemicals aren’t an option. In that case, the best strategy is to deny w**ds one thing they most definitely need: sunlight.
The most accessible option is regular brown cardboard (finally something to do with that stack of Amazon boxes). Remove tape, labels, and plastic, then lay the cardboard over the area with pieces overlapping. Since cardboard can be unsightly, you can cover it with mulch to make the area look cleaner while it does its job, it also weigh down the cardboard.

From here, timing depends on how you want to plant. If you plan to seed, it’s best to let the cardboard and mulch suppress the existing vegetation first, often for a full growing season, so the seeds have less competition.

But if you’re using native plugs, you don’t necessarily have to wait that long. After a couple of weeks, once the cardboard has settled and the mulch bed is stable, you can cut small openings through the cardboard and plant plugs directly into the soil underneath. The cardboard and mulch continue suppressing w**ds while the plugs begin establishing.

Weeds may still pop up afterward, but at a significantly weakened state.

Example pictured: the side of the house, where only w**ds are growing. This area was w**d whipped, covered with cardboard to block sunlight, and topped with mulch to make it look cleaner while the site prep did its work.

06/01/2026

This past weekend marked the grand opening of Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi's new Center, honoring Waḳaŋ Ṭípi, a sacred Dakota site near the Mississippi River just east of downtown St. Paul.

It was a privilege to be part of the living restoration of this place helping seed and plant native vegetation so it can once again flourish on the grounds. After generations of industrial use, pollution, and neglect, this restoration will heal what has been damaged: returning life, memory, and respect to a place that has always held deep sacred significance.

The Center will offer people the opportunity to learn about the cultural significance of plants, Dakota relationships with land and place, and the traditions of care and stewardship that continue here. It stands as a reminder that restoration is not only about the land, but also about how we understand our relationship to it.

This place honors Dakota people whose knowledge and sacred connection to the land invites all of us to relearn what it means to be part of the Earth, and not separate from it.

05/28/2026

Looking for your next obsession?

Have you tried Carex?

Aka native plant gardening’s best-kept secret: sedges.
Not grass, although they’ll fool the non-believers.

There’s a sedge for almost every place: sun or shade, wet or dry, slopes, compacted soils, woodland edges, tricky corners, lawn replacements, and all the “what do I even plant here?” spots.

They’re the thread that structures the whole blanket of vegetation. They flower, produce unique seed heads, hold soil, feed and shelter wildlife, and often stay green through winter, even under snow.

Once you plant them, and see, you'll understand why...
They’re the glue, the foundation, the quiet constant beneath the seasonal drama.
The forbs will come and go, bloom and fade, rise and collapse.

But the sedges....the sedges remains true.

05/22/2026

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

Native plant gardening doesn’t mean you have to rip out every peony, cat mint, or giant onion in your garden. Garden design is an expression of you. You are the artist curating colors, selecting textures, eliciting emotions, and creating discovery within a space.

Native plants are not here to eliminate that beauty, only expand upon it.

Native plants offer something many traditional ornamentals do not, support for wildlife. You begin noticing the Monarch landing on milkw**d, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds visiting your Columbine, or a species of native bee you have never seen before drinking nectar from Bergamot.

Your definition of Beauty will evolve when you begin discovering who else your garden is supporting.

Somewhere along the way, gardening became framed as a choice between ornamental beauty or ecological purpose. But who is to say we cannot live in the best of both? A Peony beside Prairie Smoke. Giant Onion standing over Common Milkw**d. Structure, color, ecology, and personality all can exist together.

Healing the earth does not require perfection. It starts with understanding what the plants in your garden are doing and asking whether they are offering something beyond pure aesthetic quality.

If you do not already have native plants in your garden, try a couple out. Just do not say we didn’t warn you when it becomes addictive.

05/20/2026

If you were unaware of World Bee Day...you're not anymore!
This clip is from a video we made from when we had the pleasure interviewing Marissa Chase of University of MN Bee Lab as she talks about the importance of rare bee's and how they all contribute to pollination of plants.
Go celebrate the bees you'll see a lot of diversity even now in spring!
You can check the full video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofA4IPyK5rk

05/19/2026

Many thanks to everyone who came out to the Native Plant Market at the City of Burnsville, Minnesota - Municipal Government ! We had a great time seeing you in person.

If you missed it, no worries. We have more in-person events coming up, including the Landscape Revival sale near Lake Elmo in early June.

You can preorder here with the same deal as before: $25 off six six-packs of any species of your choice. We’ll also be bringing plants to buy off the truck.

Last day to order is May 31! See you there!

https://mnlcorp.com/product/landscape-revival-expo-market-preorder/

05/15/2026

Just a friendly reminder we'll be at the City of Burnsville, Minnesota - Municipal Government Native Plant Sale tomorrow from 9-Noon!
Even if you didn't get a chance to preorder we'll still be bringing over 50 species for you to bringing home and start planting on tomorrow's gorgeous day!

The Native Plant Market is back!

Join us May 16 from 9 a.m. – noon at Nicollet Commons Park for native plants, local vendors and a Garden Tool Swap, all in one spot.

Browse wildflowers, grasses and ferns, pre-order plants and swap tools you no longer need. Open to everyone!

➡️ burnsvillemn.gov/nativeplants

05/14/2026

**“What the heck is a w**d???? It all looks like w**ds!”**

A common, and very valid, question for anyone who has just seeded an area.

You’ve got to develop what we like to call **“native plant vision”**: a skill that has native plants jumping out at you.. guaranteed to impress friends and family.

Say you planted 10 square feet of native seeds from one of our small packets last year, maybe something like the planting pictured here. Now it’s spring, things are coming up green, and you’re hoping it’s all going to look quite nice.

In this case, and in a lot of cases, you likely planted in a spot that hasn’t had prairie plants on it in a long, long time. Maybe it was turf you’re trying to convert. Maybe it was a previously rocked landscape that has been opened up for seeding. Or maybe, like this example, it’s an experimental patch under some deck stairs that may as well be supporting pollinators.

Whatever the case, you prepared the ground, spread the seeds, and hoped something would germinate this spring.

And oh boy, it has.

But what is good, and what is bad?

In 2026, there are plenty of plant identification apps that work well enough to help you understand what each individual plant might be. They can be a great starting point, especially once you pair them with your own observations over time. Some apps can even help identify plants before they flower, though flowering usually makes things much easier and more reliable.

Once you’ve identified a few plants you recognize and want to keep, like wild bergamot, golden alexanders, smooth penstemon, and so on, you can start to see their shapes within the sea of green that feels so overwhelming at first.

**“That’s great and all, but when do the w**ds cease?”**

Well…it might be a long battle. But if you see native plants coming up, that means the seeds have germinated and you now have allies on your side.

From there, your job is to maintain and promote their growth. Plants beget plants.

There are steps you can take throughout the growing season to knock back the power of the unwanted plants. One of the easiest methods is to w**d-whip the w**ds down before they flower and set seed. This helps slow their spread while giving your native seedlings more room, light, and time to establish.

What’s great about a w**d whip is that you can be as selective as you want. Once you’ve learned a few of the native plants you like, you can avoid cutting them so they have a chance to grow, propagate, and enhance your planting next year, and the year after that, and so on and so forth.

So again, this isn’t easy. It’s a different type of gardening. Early native seedlings often go through a messy stage, and that’s normal. But know this: if you see something good, something good is happening. But it just might take a few years before your seeding or planting can really stand up to the other unwanted plants trying to move in.

Or, you know, you can just get a w**d suppressant mat and plugs…

05/12/2026

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! It's here, it's here, it's here!
Native plant shipping season has begun!
Shipping Day is finally here! Starting now, we’ll be shipping plants every Tuesday throughout the growing season.
For those who placed early preorders, keep an eye out...your plants will be arriving very soon! You’ll receive an email notification once your order is on the truck and headed your way.
We’re so excited to kick off another season of native planting. Happy planting, and remember, we’re here all season long!💚💚💚💚

05/10/2026

To all the amazing Mom's from all walks of life: thank you for standing by us in the toughest of times, for feeding us and teaching us how to forage our way through this world, and for protecting us as we continue to grow.

We would never be without you in the most literal sense, but we could never thrive without your guidance, protection, and love.

Happy Mother's Day❤️💞❤️